Rays Sign Delmon Young To Minor League Contract

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 18: Delmon Young #21 of the Detroit Tigers hits a RBI single in the first inning against the New York Yankees during game four of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 18, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 18: Delmon Young #21 of the Detroit Tigers hits a RBI single in the first inning against the New York Yankees during game four of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 18, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Delmon Young is returning to Tampa Bay on a minor league deal after the Rays selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft.

The club said Thursday that the 27-year-old outfielder/designated hitter will report to Double-A Montgomery. Young began the season with the Philadelphia Phillies after helping Detroit reach the World Series last year, winning the AL championship series MVP award with the Tigers.

Young hit .293 with 16 homers and 103 RBIs in two seasons with the Rays before being traded to the Minnesota Twins in November 2007.

Young batted .261 with eight homers and 31 RBI in 80 games before being released by the Phillies this month. Last October with the Tigers, he hit .353 with two homers and six RBIs in the ALCS against the New York Yankees.